The bill amends Section 34-18-56 of the General Laws in the "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" to establish standardized notices and complaint forms for landlords addressing nonpayment of rent and noncompliance with rental agreements. New legal language is inserted to include specific templates for a five-day demand notice for nonpayment, a notice of noncompliance, a notice of termination of tenancy, and eviction complaints, ensuring clarity in communication between landlords and tenants. Additionally, landlords are required to provide a notice of arrearage if tenants are more than fifteen days behind on rent, and the bill emphasizes tenants' rights to present defenses during eviction hearings. The bill also deletes previous ambiguous legal language to streamline the eviction process.

Moreover, the bill modifies the procedures for serving eviction summonses, changing the hearing time from 9:30 A.M. to 9:00 A.M., and allows for conspicuous posting of eviction notices if tenants cannot be located. It introduces a certificate of service confirming that eviction complaints and summonses were mailed to tenants, and it outlines necessary forms for various landlord-tenant complaints, emphasizing the importance of timely tenant responses to avoid default judgments. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, aiming to enhance clarity and fairness in landlord-tenant disputes while ensuring tenants are informed of their rights and obligations.

Statutes affected:
5181: 34-18-56